Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-02-19

future cost Of the pension list is uncertain AHA
Hnre iah}e, aud always fall far below actual
realizaton. The chairman of the house com
mtttee on pensions calculates that the number
81 pensioners under this bin would be 33, I05. and
the increased annual cost Si,761 ii0. This is
nron he theory that only those who are entirely
unable Ia work would be it's benet aries. such
vas The principle Of the revolutionary pension
law Of ISIS, much moro clearly stated, il seems
10 ne, than ia this bill. When
THE LAW or 1878
was upon its passage in congress the number
~ pensioners 70 be benefited thereby wac
thought TO be S1t, hut the number OF appli-
c4nts under the act WAS 22,lal. and the number
~ pensions actually allowed 21.4s5, costing, il il
reported. for the first year, St,Sf7g.Q, instead %
Ntu,UUd, the stlmete expense for that period.
4 law. was passed in 1913 for the benefit ~
surviving widows OF revolutionary soldiers, who
we're married after January /, 1890. 1t was
I stimated that they numbered 300 1T the
tttne Of the passage Of the act, but
tie number OF pensions allowed was 3,2i2,
md the amount paid for such pensions
Turing the first year of the operation OF the act
"as Sto0,Ou0, instead Of SZ4, coo, rs had been esti-
mated.
| made no search for other illustrations. and
he above being at hand are given as tending 10
show that the estimate cannot be relied upon in
such cases. II none should be pcnsioned under
This till except those utterly unable to work |
aa satisfied that the cost estimated in the estf-
mate referred 20 would be many times multi
piled, and with a constant increase from year to
year, and If those partially unable To earn their
support should be admitted To the privilege OF
TINS biii tie BibDaDit iHGtbdSe OF
EXPENSE WOULD BE ALMosT APPALLING.
| think j. may be said that mt the close of the
war of the rebellion every northern state and "a
majority of the northern counties and cities were
Ourdened with taxation on account OF the large
bounties paid our soldiers: and the bonded debt
thereby created still constitutes IA large item In
The account of the tax-gatherer against the peo.
pie. Federal taxation, no less borne by the peo-
Pile than that directly levied upon their properly,
10 still maintained at IA rate made necessary by
the exigencies of WAR. If this bill should be-
come law, with its tremendous addition TO our
previous obligation, i am Thoroughly convinced
that further efforts to reduce the federal revenue
and restore some part of it To our people will,
and perhaps should, he seriously questioned. Ii
has constantly been Il cause Of pride and con-
graduation to the Amertcap citizen that his
country Is not put to the charge OF maintaining
are now living under q war tax which has been
tolerated in peaceful times 10 meet obligations
incurred in war. But for years past, In all parts
Of the country. .he demand for a reduction Of
he burdens Of taxation upon our labor and pro-
iuction has increased in volume and urgency.
am not willing 10 approve a measure present
ing the
OBJECTIONS TO WHICH THIS BILL Is Sun.
JECTEp
and which, moreover, viii havc the effect OF dis
appointing the expectation of the people and
their desire and hope FOR relief from war AKA
tion in time Of peace. In my last annual mes
sage the following language was used: Every
patriotic heart responds TO tender consideration
for those who. having served their country long
and well, are reduced to destttutton and depend
euce, not as an incident OF their service, bat
with advancing age or through SICK
ness or misfortunc. We are oil
tempted by tho contemplation OF ench condition
/ 20 supply relief, and arc often impatient of the
( limitations Of public duty. Yielding to ne one
ia q desire TO indulge this feeling of considera-
ton, | cannot rid myself of the conviction that
I IL these ex-soldicts are 20 be relieved Ia y and
I their cause are entitled TO the benefit Of an en-
1otmeht under which relief may bo claimed ns a
! eight, and tHat -ach relief should be granted IN
Ier sanction OF law. not ia evasion OF II, noT
srUuld such worthy objects Of care, all equally
entitled be reunited u the GHerual operation Of
synrafhy or OF he tender mercies OF eocial and
political influence with their unjust discrilnlna-
tons
/ do not think that the
OBJECTS, CONDITIONS AMI LIMITATIONS
thus suggested are contained in the bill under
consideration. J adhere 10 the sentiments thus
heretofore expressed, bnt the evil threatened by
this bill is ia my opinion such that, charged
with great responsibility in behalf of the peo-
pie, ! cannot DO otherwise than 10 bring 10 the
consideration Of this measure my best efforts
Of thought aud Judgment. and perform my cOn-
eiitutional uuty in relation thereto regardless OF
aii cousequences except such rs appear To me to
be related TO the best and highest interests Of
the country. GROVER CLEVELAND,
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON. February
IL. 1887.